Fish-trap.



Jonas H. cRowsoN,

y Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT OFFICE.

orv LINDEN, TEXAS.

FISH-TRAP.

Patented oct. 9,1906,

Application filed June 2.1906. Serial No. 319.865.

l To /LZZ whom it 'may concern.:-

"Beit-known that I, JONAS H. CRow'soN, a

` citizen of. the United States, lresiding at Linden ,in the county of Cass and St ate of Texas, have invented a new and .nseful I `ish-Trap,

its object is to provide a very simple and in-.

expensive device ofl this character formed of very few parts and which constitutes a effectivemeans for trapping fish.

The invention consists of a main compartment formed of a length of Awire fabric bent upon itself and having the space between its edges closed by fabricl strips, which also serve to close the ends of a front-compart-n ment, 'which is likewise formed in a single length of fabric folded' upon itself, the ends of said `fabric being bent inward to constitute an inlet/while the opposite portion of the fabric forming the front compartment projects between and is -Secured to the end of the fabric ofthe main compartment and is cut transversely to form an opening ,through which fish can enter the main compartment.

The invention also consists of certain other 'i novel features of construction and'conibina.- tions of parts, which will be hereinafter more.

' In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In saiddrawings, Figure l is a 'longitudi- Vnal section through the trap ,"and Fig. l2 is a y pers ective view, the greater portion of the mes being removed, but the edge' wires of the fabric strips beingshown in proper positions. y

Referring to the figures 'by numerals of reference, l is a length of wire fabric, such as ordinarily employed for fencing purposes, and this fabric is folded upon itself to form a rounded end,while the ends of the fabric 1 are twisted into eng-agement wit-h opposite portions of another length of wire fabric 2,

which is folded on itself and projects, bel tween the ends of the fabric 1.

Thatportion of the fabric 2 which projects into the folded fabric 1 is cut between the sides, leaving the Awires of the fabric unsevered closeA to the sidesthereof. The wires which are severed in this manner constitute prongs 3, vwhich project into the compartment 4, formedby the length of fabric l. The ends of the fabric 2 are bent inward, and the wires of said fabric constitute prongs 5, which project into The ends of the two compartments 4 and 6 are closed by two strips of wire fabric 7 and 8, which aie cut to conform to the contour of the endsv f the compartments,andthe wires of these and strips are twistedinto engagement with the edge wires of the .fabrics l and 2, so' as to constitute efficient cldsures for the compartment. The end strip 8 is notfasY tened throughout its edges to the fabric 1, .but instead engages a binding-wire 9 at its rear e'nd, and that portion of the strip 8 secured'to this binding-wire constitutes a door or closure which may be swung open so -as to permit an arm tovbe inserted into the compartment 4 for 1the purpose of rem'oving fish therefrom. The'door is adapted' to be held in closed position by means of a spring-catch- 10adapteld to engage the end portion of the compartment 4. 4

In using this trap suitable bait is placed on the prongs and the device is lowered into I the water in'any suitable manner so as to rest i upon the bed. Fish will be attracted to the f bait and will nibble at'it and finally work between the prongs 5, which will prevent them said prongs. In the efforts of the fish to escape they will pass between the prongs 3 and into the.' compartment 4, from which it will be removed from this main compartment by opening the'closure at the rear end thereof. Itis to be noted that the entire trap is formedof ordinarywire-netting and that but four of these strips are employed-to wit, two strips for forming the two compartments and two end strips. The device can therefore be constructed at comparatively slight cost, and as it is made of veryfew )arts there is noth.- ing to get out of order an the trap is always set.

What is claimed is 1. A trapfornied of wire fabric and comprising a length of fabric folded upon itself and having Iint'urned" .ends constituting prongs, that portion ofthe fabric .opposite said prongs being cut to constitute prongs, another length of fabric secured to the pronged fabric at opposite sides 'of .the cut portion thereof, and end strips secured to the ledges of the lengths of fabric.

2. A trap formed of wire fabric and comprising a'length of fabric bent upon itself and i having inturn'ed ends' constituting prongs, l that portionof said fabric opposite the the compartment 6, formed by the fabric 2. i prongs being cut to fornaplurality of prongs,

from passing from compartment 6 between be impossible' for them to escape. They canloo IIC

a len` th4 of fabric secured to the 'lirst-menktiene fabric at opposite sidesof the cut 'or tion therein, end strips secured to the e gesv of the fabric,a binding deyice for one of said* strips, said device and strip constitutingl a closure. v

3'. Atrap formed ofwire fabric andy corni Brising a length of fabric bent upon' itself and ating inturned ends constituting prong@ that portion' off saidf. fabric opposite the v prongs being cut to for-ma lurality of prongs, a'l'engtl'r'offabric secure 3to the'first-menL.

v 'saidfst'ips said device and strip constituting tioned fabric at opposite sides lof the clit` o1- tionjtlierein', end' strfipsv secured to the e ges of thefabric, abindlngdevice upon? one of a closure, andlmeans for locking tlie closure.

4'; A trap-formed ofmetalfabric and corn- ?rising a length-of fabric folded upon itself to'- or'm a main compartment, another lengthi of fabic foldedupon itself to constitute a fronti compartment, the fabric of said front conn,-y partment' extending' between. andi secured to the ends of' the fabric ofthe rear co1npart` ment, the end's ofthe fabric of the front com@ partrnent being-inturned to constitutel baitreceiving `prongs', that portion of said'f'abric projecting into the front compartment being tut to'produce a plurality taf-prongs, andv end strips 4secured over the ends of tne two 'con-1f 5. A trap form-ed fftatl'ftbric' 'and @fom- 'risi'nga lengthof fabric folded uponitself tc crm a main compartment, another length of fabric foldedupon itself, to constitute a. front, compartment, -the fabric of saidfront .comi partr'n'ent extending between andsecnred to the ends Iof the fabric4 of the ref tr,compart-V ment, the ends oftlie fabric of thefront "coinl partment being inturned toconstittefbaib receiving .prongs-'that' portion-ofl said fiiblio` projecting into the-frontcompartmen being cut *tov produczaplurality of rongsi'f-end- A stri ps securedover the' ends'offt eitwoicomi-Q.

pertinents, one of said: stri Shaving vahft'ee end; a binding device secure itc saidffeeendi,

land means for fasteningl saiddv-ice tof-the `fabric of the main' c'oI np'artinent)J saib-Dd' end fabric constituting a clcjsuree4 l In" testimony that' I- clainithe forcgoingas 

